USS Dwight D Eisenhower safely home after battling Houthi missiles and drones
USS Dwight D Eisenhower has returned home to an emotional welcome at Naval Station Norfolk at the end of an intense nine-month deployment.
The aircraft carrier, serving as the flagship of the Ike Carrier Strike Group, set sail from Norfolk on 14 October last year.
Her deployment began just days after Hamas's attack on Israel and the subsequent bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces.
Approximately six weeks into Eisenhower's mission, Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, prompting the carrier strike group to engage in Operation Prosperity Guardian.
In response to the war in Gaza, the Houthis, an Iranian-backed rebel group, began firing drones and missiles towards Israel, with many of these projectiles being intercepted.
Since November, the rebels have launched over 40 attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The attacks, motivated by the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, primarily targeted Israeli vessels - but also posed a significant threat to international maritime traffic.
USS Eisenhower's presence in the Red Sea was crucial in countering the Houthi attacks.
In response to the attacks, Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin extended Eisenhower's deployment twice, first in late April and again in June.
During the deployment, the carrier and her squadrons conducted numerous operations to protect commercial shipping lanes, ensuring freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The Red Sea is an important shipping area through which 15% of global sea trade usually passes.
As well as targeting merchant ships, the Houthis also attacked US Navy vessels, regularly firing anti-ship ballistic and cruise missiles.
The Houthis control a significant portion of Yemen, including the Red Sea coastline, and have established a de facto government in the north-west of the country.
The nine-month deployment proved to be combat-heavy for the carrier.
"The crew operated flawlessly in a threat weapons engagement zone, and they brought the flight to the enemy every single day, launching and recovering aircraft," the ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Chris "Chowdah" Hill, wrote on X.
Carrier Air Wing Three, known as the "Battle Axe", was deployed with the Eisenhower.
It flew more than 13,800 sorties for more than 31,000 total flight hours and completed more than 10,000 aircraft launches and recoveries.
"I have never been more proud to serve with such a fine group of warriors in my life," Capt Hill wrote.
"They proved that the USS Dwight D Eisenhower, with its Carrier Air Wing Three, is indeed the best damn ship in the Navy."
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